Thích thì chiều

indulge someone's whims

Cô ấy thích thì chiều, chồng con toàn phải nghe theo.

She indulges their whims; her husband and children always have to obey.

◆ What It Really Means

To humor or comply with someone's whims to avoid conflict or maintain harmony, often at one's own expense.

¶ Literal Meaning

If someone likes, then indulge.

Literal Breakdown

thíchto like/to want+thìthen+chiềuto indulge/to humor

◇ Mental Image

A person bending or adjusting their own preferences to match someone else's desires, like a flexible branch yielding to the wind.

◈ When to Use

A parent giving in to a child's demands to stop a tantrum, or a partner agreeing to their significant other's unreasonable request to avoid an argument.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase embodies the Vietnamese cultural value of 'lễ nghĩa' (propriety) and 'hòa thuận' (harmony), where outward compliance is prioritized over direct confrontation.

informal

To humor or comply with someone's desires or preferences, often to avoid conflict or maintain harmony, even if it's unreasonable.

Anh ấy thích thì chiều vợ, chứ không bao giờ cãi nhau.

He indulges his wife's whims and never argues with her.

Con nít thích thì chiều, đừng bắt ép nó làm gì.

Kids should be humored; don't force them to do anything.

Commonly used in family or romantic relationships where one party consistently yields to the other's preferences to maintain peace.

Collocations

thích thì chiều thôijust go along with ittoàn thích thì chiềualways indulging others

Synonyms

chiều lòng làm theo ý nuông chiều

Antonyms

cứng rắn không chiều

Related Phrases

lấy lòngphrase

to ingratiate oneself

dĩ hòa vi quýproverb

harmony is precious

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This phrase is deeply tied to Vietnamese values of family and social harmony. Using it can imply both affection (humoring a loved one) or criticism (enabling bad behavior).

Usage Notes

The phrase reflects a cultural emphasis on harmony and avoidance of conflict in Vietnamese social interactions. It is often used playfully or critically depending on context.

Word Breakdown

thích

to like/to want

verb

thì

then

conjunction

chiều

to indulge/to humor

verb

Từ Điển Việt Anh

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